The Two Major Causes of Winter Malaise Are "Cold" and "Dryness" - Part 1: Dryness

Good morning!

Last time, I talked about "cold," a major cause of winter malaise👇

And there is another one that comes as a set with cold: "dryness."

When winter arrives,

・Skin becomes dry and flaky
・Itchy skin or scalp
・Scratchy throat, prone to coughing
・Dry eyes
・Static electricity shocks
・Feeling easily fatigued

Don't you find these symptoms increasing?🤔
As you might have guessed, the root cause of these is usually dryness.

So, in this "Dryness Part 1," I will cover:

• Why it gets so dry in winter

• What kind of impact dryness has on the body

First, let's organize these points ('ω')ノ

Why is it easy to get dry in winter?

Actually, winter in Japan is drier than a desert🏜️

Let me explain what that means.

According to data from the Japan Weather Association summarizing the absolute humidity of deserts and winter in Japan (February):

• Desert: approx. 10.2g/㎥

• Sapporo: approx. 2.7g/㎥ Asahikawa Super Dry

• Niigata: approx. 4.4g/㎥ Asahi District SUPER DRY

• Tokyo: approx. 3.8g/㎥ Asahigaoka Suuuuper Dryyyy

• Osaka: approx. 4.5g/㎥ Asahi-ku Sup(ry

...Isn't it crazy that the absolute humidity is less than half that of a desert? 🫢

Furthermore, in winter when the air is dry, moisture easily evaporates from your breath and skin.

This is hard to notice, so you might end up dehydrated without realizing it 💦 After all, 60-70% of your body is made of water. In a way, it's like exposing a 37°C wet towel to a 5°C dry wind.

Moreover, winter is a season where strong winds are common due to the large "temperature difference between the ground and the atmosphere" and "pressure differences" 🍃

That wind ends up stripping even more moisture from your body. That's why you need to be careful about

dehydration in winter, not just in summer ⚠️

I'll say it again.

Japan in winter is drier than a desert 🏜️

Four Effects of Dryness on the Body

Dryness doesn't just cause rough skin and static electricity; it gradually damages various parts of your body as well 👇

1. Weakened Mucous Membranes

Mucous membranes in the throat, nose, and eyes are essentially defensive walls that prevent the entry of viruses and dust.

By maintaining proper moisture, these membranes catch foreign substances and expel them from the body.

But when it gets dry, this barrier breaks down (ﾟДﾟ;)

As a result,

• viruses and bacteria can enter more easily

• you become more prone to sore throats and coughing

• the inside of your nose dries out, making nosebleeds more likely

• your eyes dry out and become tired more easily

These kinds of ailments become more likely to occur 🏜️

Especially when the throat's mucous membranes dry out, pathogens can easily enter the body. Furthermore, some viruses

love cold and dry environments 👾 Furthermore,

• Dryness makes virus-laden droplets lighter, allowing them to drift easily through the air

• The barrier function of the mucous membranes declines

When these conditions overlap, it becomes easier to catch a cold.

In other words, the reason why "you are prone to catching colds in winter" is

not because it is "cold"

but rather

because "the barrier of your mucous membranes is weakened by dryness"

is the reason ( ˘ω˘ )

Furthermore, when the body lacks moisture, blood circulation worsens.

This affects the function of white blood cells, weakening your ability to eliminate foreign substances 💦

In short, dryness is one of the major causes that leads to a decline in immune strength 🤧

② Effects on skin and hair

Skin and hair are easily affected by dryness.

First, when skin loses moisture, its "barrier function" declines.

The barrier function is the mechanism that protects the body from external stimuli on the skin's surface while preventing moisture from escaping from within.

When this function weakens,

• itching

• dermatitis

• cracking and flaking

• fine lines becoming noticeable

• nasolabial folds becoming deeper

and other such symptoms become more likely to appear.
This is the state known as dry skin.

Of course, the scalp is no exception.

When it dries out, it becomes prone to itching and dandruff, worsening the scalp environment.

Your skin ages, your scalp gets dandruff, and it looks extremely unhealthy and unhygienic😱

And the same goes for your hair.

When it dries out, moisture is lost, causing it to become frizzy, spread out, and lose its shine.

This alsocauses you to look older😭

Dryness is a critical point that can suddenly increase your skin age and hair age.

It is an enemy not only to your health but also to your beauty🏜️

③ Autonomic nervous system becomes prone to imbalance

Irritation caused by dryness is a significant source of stress.

• Itchy skin

• Throat discomfort

• Dry eyes

Even small discomforts like these can easily disrupt the balance of your autonomic nervous system when they pile up.

And,

・Difficulty falling asleep
・Fatigue that won't go away
・Decreased concentration
・Easily irritated
・Loss of appetite

This leads to such ailments.

If you leave discomfort unaddressed, you cannot relax, and your sympathetic nervous system tends to become dominant.

As a result, your sleep quality drops and fatigue accumulates😔

④ Static electricity becomes more likely to occur

When it is dry, that hateful static electricity also becomes more likely to occur⚡

Moisture in the air is an escape route for electricity.

When there is humidity, the moisture in the air creates a thin film on the surface of objects, and the electricity that is about to build up naturally escapes into the air.

In other words, when the air is dry, this path for electricity is blocked, making it easier for electricity to build up in your body and clothes.

Furthermore, when your skin is dry, static electricity becomes harder to discharge and continues to accumulate in your body.

As a result, the moment you touch a doorknob or metal object, the accumulated static electricity is discharged all at once,

"ZAP!⚡"

and you get a shock :;(∩´﹏`∩);:

In particular,when humidity drops below 40%, static electricity begins to occur frequently.

The fact that static electricity happens frequently is a sign that "your body is dry" ⚡(๑◕ܫ◕๑)⚡

Let's check the humidity in your room with a hygrometer 👀

...You don't have a hygrometer?

In that case, I recommend a clock that displays both humidity and temperature.

It's convenient because you can check it along with the time!

By the way, I keep this in my bedroom 👇

(PR)

A desk clock type alarm clock.

However, since the main function is the clock, there is a slight margin of error in the humidity and temperature display.

💡 Recommended Points
✅ Radio-controlled clock for accurate time 🕛
✅ Time, humidity, and temperature are visible at a glance 👀
✅ Stylish wood-grain design 😉
✅ Display is visible in the dark & brightness is adjustable 🔦
✅ Corded, so you don't have to worry about the battery running out 🔌

A wall clock is also a great choice for the living room!

Conclusion

The health issues caused by dryness are greater than you might think.

To summarize what we've discussed:

In other words,winter malaise is often caused by "dryness" rather than the "cold itself."That is what it comes down to.

But conversely,by simply taking measures against dryness, you can significantly improve your physical condition, beauty, and comfort all at once.That is also true.

So, in the second part,

• NG habits that accelerate dryness

• Concrete measures you can start today

I will be sharing these with you 💧

If you've been feeling like, "Maybe I'm a bit under the weather lately?"

please look forward to the next part.

Your likes and follows also keep my heart hydrated 🤗

I will bring you more tips for spending winter comfortably and beautifully next time ✨

See you then. Have a great day!